The mission of the Volunteer Attorney Program (VAP) is to ensure the disadvantaged population of the region has access to justice by providing accessible and quality legal services through the work of volunteer attorneys.

Volunteer Attorney Program

About Us

The Volunteer Attorney Program strives to provide pro bono legal services to the tremendous portion of the population who are forced to navigate the complex and litigious judicial system without an attorney. Ideally in most civil matters, individuals hire an attorney or qualify for a legal services staff attorney. The reality is that the majority of litigants in Minnesota appear in court unrepresented. This is usually not by choice – these individuals either cannot afford an attorney or do not qualify for legal aid.

Serving Northeastern Minnesota since 1981

The Volunteer Attorney Program was established in 1981 by a grant from the American Bar Association (ABA) in response to potential defunding of national legal aid offices. Faced with the possibility of no legal services for low-income individuals, the ABA established volunteer attorney programs to recruit private attorneys to provide pro bono legal services. The first five programs created by the ABA were located in Baltimore, Austin, Honolulu, Portland and Duluth. Legal aid offices continued to receive funding, but the need for legal services for low-income individuals rose drastically and continues to rise.